GM: 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray lightweight down to the wire

DETROIT- The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is elected to be much lighter than its predecessor thanks to everything from the aluminum chassis to a new wire technology from General Motors Co.

The redesigned seventh-generation sports car is the first vehicle to use a lightweight shape memory alloy wire developed by the Detroit-based automaker in place of a heavier motorized actuator to open and close the hatch vent that releases air from the trunk, according to GM.

“Smart materials like shape memory alloys offer new possibilities for many movable vehicle features,” said Jon Lauckner, GM’s chief technology officer. “These new materials enable innovative designs and new and improved features at a lower cost than traditional motors and actuators.”

While it might not seem like much, the shape memory alloy also helps remove unwanted mass, which can help improve vehicle performance and fuel economy. The wire actuator used on the new Corvette is approximately 1.1 pound lighter than a conventional motorized system.

In the new Corvette, a shape memory alloy wire opens the hatch vent whenever the deck lid is opened, using heat from an electrical current in a similar manner to the trunk lights, according to GM.

The new material allows the trunk lid to close more easily than on the previous models where trapped air could make the lid harder to close.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the first production car to use a General Motors-developed lightweight shape memory alloy wire in place of a heavier motorized actuator to open and close the hatch vent that releases air from the trunk. GM

When activated, the wire contracts and moves a lever arm to open the vent, allowing the trunk lid to close. Once the trunk lid is closed, the electrical current switches off, allowing the wire to cool and return to its normal shape, which closes the vent to maintain cabin temperature.

GM said considering there are about 200 motorized movable parts on the typical vehicle, the new technology could be replaced with lightweight smart materials, could lead to significant weight reduction in future cars and trucks.

Stingray was last used four generations ago on the Detroit-based automaker’s generation 3 Corvette from 1968-82. The name was first used on the 1959 racing car and again for the second-generation Corvette from 1963-67.

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